PART II - APPLICATION DATA

(Note: Part I deleted under the Privacy Act on Reading Room copy)

1.  Character of Discharge:  GD

2.  Date of discharge (or REFRAD):  970918

3.  Authority for separation:

	a.  Regulation:  Chapter 14, AR 635-200

	b.  Reason:  Misconduct

4.  Prior review(s):  NONE

PART III - SERVICE HISTORY

SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review

1.	Service data:                              2.  Awards and decorations:
			                          AAM                        
a.  Period entered for:  3 Years               NDSM
b.  Entry date:  960202                        ASR
c.  Age:  21 Years   DOB:  750202                                          
d.  Educational level:  HS Grad                                                     
e.  Aptitude area score:
	    GT:  126                               3.  Highest grade achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E3
        1 Year  7 Months  15 Days                 
                                                  
                                               4.  Performance evaluations:  
                                                   NONE

PART III - SERVICE HISTORY
SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review - Continued

5.  Periods of unauthorized absence: 
                                                                    
    Status       Inclusive dates                       
	AWOL         970210-970211                                         

	Mil conf                                                           

	Civil conf                                                         

	Other                                                              

6.  Nonjudicial punishment: 

	Date 	Offense(s)
	970123    FTG (961127)
	970702    FTG (970630)

7.  Court-Martial data:  NONE

	a.  SCM:  
		Date   Offense(s)

	b.  SPCM:  
		Date   Offense(s)

	c.  GCM:	 
		Date   Offense(s)

8.	Remarks:  NONE

SECTION B - Prior Service Data
NONE

Other discharge(s):

	Service	From	To	Type Discharge

PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW

SECTION A-ANALYST’S ASSESSMENT
l.  Facts and Circumstances:

	a.  The evidence of record shows that on 20 August 1997, the unit commander requested that the applicant be separated under the provisions of Chapter l4, AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct, with a recommendation for a general, under honorable conditions discharge (GD).  On 11 September 1997, Orders 254-0003, DA, HQ, 3D Infantry Division (Mechanized) and Fort Stewart, GA, discharged the applicant from the Regular Army, effective date: 18 September 1997.  The applicant signed the DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) issued him at discharge which contained the following facts:  Character of Service-General, Under Honorable Conditions; Authority for Separation-Chapter 14, AR 635-200; and the Narrative Reason for Separation-Misconduct. 

	b.  On 18 September 1997, the applicant was discharged with a GD.  At the time of discharge, the applicant had completed 1 year, 7 months, and 15 days of active military service on his current enlistment, and a total of 3 years, 
3 months, and 20 days of creditable military service.

	c.  The applicant’s record shows that he had completed almost 2 years of reserve service and just over 1 and ½ years of active duty on his current enlistment; the highest rank he attained while on active duty was private first class/E-3; and he had earned an Army Achievement Medal for his achievement during a National Training Center rotation.  His disciplinary history includes his acceptance of two Article 15’s:  the first on 23 January 1997, for failing to go to his prescribed place of duty which resulted in his reduction to private/E-2; the second on 2 July 1997, for failing to go to his prescribed place of duty which resulted in a suspended reduction to private/E-1 which was vacated on 6 August 1997, for an incident of leaving from his appointed place of duty without authority.  On 20 August 1997 the applicant’s unit commander recommended a separation packet be prepared on the applicant based on his continuous failure to repair.  The record contains a DD Form 214 which shows the applicant was discharged for patterns of misconduct, under the provisions of chapter 14, AR 635-200.

2.  Legal/Regulatory Basis for Separation Action:  Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Chapter l4 establishes policy and prescribes procedures for separating members for misconduct.  Specific categories include minor disciplinary infractions, a pattern of misconduct, commission of a serious offense, to include abuse of illegal drugs, convictions by civil authorities and desertion or absence without leave.  Action will be taken to separate a member for misconduct when it is clearly established that rehabilitation is impractical or unlikely to succeed.  Army policy states that an under other than honorable conditions discharge is normally considered appropriate, but a general discharge under honorable conditions or an honorable discharge may be granted.

SECTION B-APPLICANT’S SUBMISSIONS

1.  Issue(s) of propriety and/or equity submitted by applicant or counsel.
    As stated on applicant’s DD Form 293.
2.  Exhibit(s) submitted:
	A-1:  DD Form 293, dated 980618, with one (1) enclosure(s).
	A-2:  Counsel Issues:  NONE
	B-l:  Other Documents: NONE

PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW (CONTINUED)

SECTION C - Medical and/or Legal Advisory Opinion

Referred to ( ) Medical Advisor      ( ) Legal Advisor

      a.  Medical prehearing comments (if applicable):

      b.  Legal prehearing comments (if applicable):

PART V - SUMMARY OF HEARING

SECTION A-Attendees and exhibits

1.  Review/hearing information:

	a. Type requested:
	   ( X ) Records review             (   ) Hearing

	b. Type Held:
	   ( X )Records review              (   ) Hearing
	                                    (   ) Tender Offer

	c. Review/hearing location and date:  Washington D.C. on 21 April 1999.

	d. Appearance by:
	   Applicant                 (   ) Yes   ( X ) No
	   Counsel                   (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

	e.  Applicant testified:     (   ) Yes   ( X ) No
	
	f.  Counsel presentation:    (   ) Yes   ( X ) No
	
	g.  Witness(es) testified:   (   ) Yes   ( X ) No
	                                                
2.  Exhibit(s) submitted at hearing:  

PART VI - ISSUES AND FINDINGS

1.  a.  Applicant's issue(s) of propriety and/or equity:

	    ( X )	Same as those listed on DD Form 293 and Part IV, Section A of this case report and directive.
	    (   )	Revised issue(s) furnished in writing by applicant as follows:
	    (   )	Additional issue(s) identified during review/hearing as follows:

	b.  Request:  ( X ) Recharacterization     (   ) Change of Reason

2.  Finding(s), conclusion(s), and reason(s) for the Board's decision(s) on issues of propriety and/or equity:

	a.  Propriety:	The applicant has not submitted an issue of propriety and the ADRB has not otherwise relied upon an issue of propriety to change the discharge.

	b.  Equity:	The parenthetical number(s) below correspond(s) to the issue number(s) on the DD Form 293, or in Part VI, Paragraph 1, above.

        (1)  The issue is rejected.  The Board noted the applicant’s contention that, in effect, he desires an upgrade of his discharge in order to obtain his education benefits.  However, this factor does not provide the Board a basis on which to grant relief.  Eligibility for veteran's benefits, to include educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill, does not fall within the purview of the Army Discharge Review Board.  Accordingly, the applicant should contact a local office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for further assistance.  The Board, being convinced that the reason for discharge and the characterization of service were proper and equitable, voted to deny relief.

        (2)  The issue is rejected.  The Board commends the applicant’s desire to take better care of his family by obtaining better employment.  However, in review of the applicant’s entire service record, the Board found that this factor does not overcome the reason for discharge and characterization of service granted.  Further, the Board does not grant relief solely for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities.  

3.  Response(s) to item(s) not addressed as decisional issue(s):  NONE

PART VII - BOARD ACTION
SECTION A - Conclusions/Decisions/Vote

1.	Board conclusion(s):

	The discharge was:

	( X )	Proper.
	(   )	Improper as to characterization.  Change characterization to                                     .
	(   )	Improper as to reason.  Change reason to                         under                      .

	( X )	Equitable.
	(   )	Inequitable as to characterization.  Change characterization to                               .
	(   )	Inequitable as to reason.  Change reason to                       
		under                                 .
	(   )	Both proper and equitable, but characterization/reason for separation cited was an administrative/clerical error and should be changed to                      under                         .

2.  Voting record:      Change   No Change
	            Reason       0         5  
    Characterization       0         5   

	  The names and votes of the members of the Board are recorded in Part IX of this document and can be obtained by writing to the address below.  The request must contain the CASE NO. located in the upper right corner of this document.

                  Department of the Army Review Boards Agency
                  ATTN:  Promulgation Team
                  1941 Jefferson Davis Highway, 2nd Floor
                  Arlington, VA  22202-4508

3.  Minority views:  NONE  

PART VII - BOARD ACTION
SECTION B - Verification and Authentication

Case report reviewed and verified	

MR. JOSPEH A. ADRIANCE                 
Case Reviewing Official	

PART VIII - DIRECTIVE/CERTIFICATION
SECTION A - DIRECTIVE

NONE

SECTION B - CERTIFICATION

Approval Authority:

THOMAS J. ALLEN
Colonel, U.S. Army
President, Army Discharge
   Review Board

Official:

SUZANNE WALKER    
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Chief, Secretary Recorder

EXHIBITS:
A - Application for review of discharge              	C - Other 
B - Material submitted by applicant

INDEX RECORD:

AR Number:  1999017756                    INDEX NUMBERS:  A9217
Date of Review:  990420                                   A9221
Character of Service:  GD                                 A9445
Date of Discharge:  970918                                A0100
Authority:  AR 635-200 C14                                
Reason:  A6700                                            
Results of Board Action/                                  
Vote/Affirmation:  NC 5-0 A                               

PART IX - VOTING RECORD

    Name                                   Reason          Characterization
                                           CHANGE   NC     HON  UHC   NC  UNCHAR
    1. 	Mbr          X                 X       

    2. 	Mbr          X                 X       

    3. 	Mbr          X                 X       

    4. 	Mbr          X                 X       

    5. 	Mbr          X                 X